How is it,
That I still dream of a lifetime spent with one I’ve never known?
How is it,
That I desire to feel the warmth of an embrace that has never come?
How is it,
That I long to hold the hand of him that I’ve never held?
How is it,
That I miss the kiss from lips that I’ve never touched?
How is it,
That I can still hope that one day I may know him?
Never would I have guessed,
That I would be so saddened,
To hear of your passing.
It’s been many a year,
Since I’ve heard your voice of gold,
But when I hear it…I am simply transported.
To think of you,
Brings a smile to my face,
Only good memories of laughter and song.
When I hear “If Ever I Would Leave You”,
My heart swells and I once again believe,
In love and happily ever after.
Who among us doesn’t face,
“The Impossible Dream”.
When I hear you…I’m infused with courage to fight the unbeatable foe.
You were most gifted by God,
I pray that your rest is now peaceful and calm,
That in eternity I will hear you sing glorious praise to my Savior.
By Susan Bunts
November 10, 2007
I penned the above poem upon hearing of Robert Goulet’s passing. Of course with the news they played Robert’s music. What a wonderful voice God gifted this man with. Upon hearing…I was reminded of only good memories…laughter and song. I’m saddened to know that another voice has been stilled, but I’m most thankful to still be able to partake of Robert Goulet’s music.
Standing in His presence,
His glory descended upon Kindred,
One body united in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A small taste of heaven,
Oh Lord I humbly pray,
Never bid me to leave Thee.
Worshiping before Your throne,
I now know,
Your glory alone is more than enough.
Our hearts bursting,
With the fullness of Christ,
Oh my Lord, You can not be contained.
May this be my Ebenezer stone…my remembrance,
May I never leave Your presence dear Lord,
Your glory so divine.
November 5, 2007
This poem is dedicated to Christ Jesus our all sufficient Savior and Lord and to the body of Christ at
And for my precious Pattie and Robyn Bolton…after experiencing a small taste of heaven and what it will be like worshiping before His throne…we can know that your precious husband and father Bob is complete and whole as he stands before his Savior Christ Jesus. One day we will join him…and Chuck and Hugo and worship our Savior truly as one body in Christ. Praise Him!
The above poem is my meager attempt to capture last night’s installation ceremony of our new precious and beloved Pastor Philip De Courcy.
The poem misses the mark...but by golly last night at Kindred Community Church God was present and made His presence and His glory known. Thank You Jesus!
Below are some slide show pictures that captured the ceremony. Welcome Pastor Philip…we thank God for bringing you to this body of Christ at Kindred!
Now who would have “thunk it” that one day,
I would say thank you to those so vocal,
Always eager to share their negative view.
For in everything you see a woe,
But you’ve inspired me,
To instead look for the rainbow.
Your gloomy countenance,
Has shown me the importance,
Of bathing in sunshine and warmth.
Where you so easily see what’s gone wrong,
I now desire to see,
What’s gone right.
Instead of an outlook to lighten the load,
Daily you carry the heavy rocks,
Of pessimism and disappointment.
A focus so narrow,
Your problems have become,
The only things in your sight.
Gus, how often, I must ask, have you missed it?
Oh Lord I pray never let me overlook the opportunities and blessings,
That You wrap in the form of a problem, disappointment or woe.
Susan Bunts
November 1, 2007
Was it just last week,
Here in this place,
I was overcome with tears,
Bearing a burden,
Much too heavy for me alone.
I cried out,
I beseeched Thee,
Oh Lord,
What are You doing through this?
Can anything good come from it?
I can’t go on,
With my life as it is,
Alone,
I pled…please take this from me,
Or take me home.
But today…You have shown me,
How You can use even this for good,
A heart that’s been tendered,
Is one able to reach out to others,
With compassion and my Savior’s love.
Strength and wisdom found in Christ alone,
You bid me to step out in faith,
Turn hurt and pain into healing,
As we take up one another’s burdens,
And lift them up to the Lord.
When I weep,
May I weep for another,
When I am weak,
May I find strength,
In helping another carry their burden.
by Susan Bunts
October 28, 2007
But let me assure you,
Not day goes by,
In which I don’t feel the influence,
Of God’s humble servant.
God used you,
Your fiery passion,
To awaken and grow a love,
Even a longing for His Holy Word.
To this day…I still listen to your sermons,
All the while finding the Holy Spirit,
Guiding, correcting and convicting me of sin,
Through the power of God’s Word.
So many churches,
Have forsaken,
Turned their backs,
On the truth of God’s Word.
Praise God…and Him only,
For Kindred will not go down that road,
He has prepared another faithful servant,
Able, most willing to preach the full counsel of God’s Word.
I still delight at handing out your messages,
Knowing firsthand that God will touch hearts,
Those whose circumstances are most desperate,
Bring comfort and strength as they depend on my Lord.
I think of you often,
Thank my God daily,
For messages delivered through His faithful servants,
God's call…to run the race well and finish strong.
Not the first of Your servants,
To experience doubt and unbelief,
A failure of faith.
From hope to despair,
The light turns to dark,
All comes crashing in.
Like David of old,
My soul cries out,
Have you forgotten, yeah even forsaken me?
I feel like Elijah,
Following his victory on the mount,
I am overcome with fear, trembling and doubt.
I let go,
I give up,
Ask the walls to come tumbling down upon me.
Your word assures me,
It bids me to trust Thee,
Believe in that which is yet unseen.
I can not,
It is beyond me,
My hope has been deferred for far too long.
I cry out,
In words known only,
To the Holy Spirit within.
He pleads,
He carries my requests,
Before the very throne room of God.
I bow before Thee,
In silence I wait,
You are my only hope.
Trembling with disbelief,
I dare not look up,
Else You will see tears shed in doubt and unbelief.
I lay them on the alter,
Take from You courage,
To believe in more than that which is seen.
I ask You for hope,
For the faith to believe,
To trust in Your goodness and mercy towards me.
In my circumstances,
You are at work, perfectly fitting him,
Whom You have chosen for me.
Dear Lord, how might I persuade you?
When Adam walked with You,
You declared, “It is not good for man to be alone!”
As Jacob wrestled with You Lord, so too will I cling,
I will not, no I will not let go,
Until Thou blesses me.
by Susan Bunts
October 12, 2007
Oh dear Lord, I pray,
Protect my heart,
May I not go down that wrong path again.
For my broken heart,
My soul,
Still bear the scars.
Wounds that once bled,
Now healed,
Through the touch of Your hand…filled with grace, mercy and love.
Like Sarah and Hannah of old,
I know,
The ache and longing of desire unfulfilled.
May I balance,
Stepping out in faith,
With pursuing Your perfect will.
May Your delay,
Not be a denial,
But instead the working out of each fine detail.
May my life, my story,
Be a testimony,
To Your unfailing love.
May those who have written me off,
Said never will it be,
Be silenced…as they see You are God who still answers prayer.
Susan Bunts
October 9, 2007
Dear Papa,
I pray that one day,
You might know my Jesus.
You confess that you just don’t know for sure,
That the Bible alone reveals,
The One True God called Jehovah.
How can there only be one way?
How narrow to say salvation is found in no other.
That the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
You say that my good works,
Count for nothing,
That salvation comes only through the blood of the Lamb.
I know so very well…I’m no saint,
Nor a wretch…deserving of hell.
Surely He must grade on a curve.
Dear Papa…I beg you please,
Cry out to Him…challenge Him,
Ask that He might reveal Himself to thee.
Dear Jesus…
I beg You…I plead…
Pour out Your mercy upon my Dad.
Bring him to the end of himself,
That he might look up and see,
My Savior’s face…and receive.
Welcome him into the fold,
Grant him life everlasting.
Come into his heart and reside.
His debt marked “paid in full”,
Cleansed…
Made whiter than snow.
Dedicated to Terry
We all have loved ones…family and friends who are yet unsaved. It’s a heavy burden…especially as we see an aging parent remain resolute in their unbelief. Yet…our God is a God of mercy and grace…and He just loves to work miracles in the least likely souls. Tonight my heart is burdened for a dear friend Terry as she is in prayer for a loved one’s salvation. Terry…so many people join with you in your ongoing prayer…and we look forward to God answering those prayers in a way we can not even ask or imagine. Blessings to you dear one.
In the quite of the day I rise,
Only to face those who come against me,
Armed with lies and deceit.
The darkness of my trials threatens to overtake me,
Then I look up and feel a ray of sun upon my face,
Bathing in the warmth…I’m reminded of Your love and faithfulness to me.
As the enemy whispers messages of defeat and destruction,
I hold fast to the One who enables me,
To be steadfast and immovable through the power of the Holy Spirit within.
Dedicated to you…
by Susan Bunts
October 2, 2007
This morning God laid upon my heart someone facing a heavy burden and trial. As I walked into work…I closed my eyes and felt the warmth of the sun upon my face...reminding me of God's love which chases the darkness and shadows away. When darkness threatens overtake him…it is my prayer that God will remind this precious man of His love and care for him. May he be confident in his Saviors ability to bring him through each trial and tribulation he faces.
From my lips,
“Hope deferred makes my heart sick.”
Seemingly incongruent,
Yet both hope and despair fill my heart.
I’m so small,
Incapable when seen through my own eyes.
In the delay,
You promise a purpose.
You pause,
Seeking to grow my faith.
My difficulties,
You delight to handling with ease.
Your word assures,
Nothing is impossible with You.
My burdens unbearable,
They are all small to my God.
An answer forthcoming,
Much greater than I can ask or imagine.
As I walked to my car on Wednesday after Bible study I ended my conversation Mike quoting the verse, “Hope deferred makes a heart sick.” - Proverbs 13:12
My heavy is heart and grows weary as prayers seemingly go unanswered. But God had planned a message of hope in Pastor Philip De Courcy’s first sermon at
Many tears were shed as we saw God’s faithful answer to our many prayers for a man of God, faithful to preach His Word. A man who speaks with authority because he speaks the Word of God. Yet humble…ever mindful but there for the grace of God, there go I.
I still wait for an answer to my prayers…and was reminded that there is no better person to put my hope in…Christ Jesus my Lord. To Him who is able to do more than I can even ask or imagine. Nothing, no nothing is impossible with my God. I wait expectantly upon my Lord.
Reluctant…I don’t want to offend,
The Gospel message seems so narrow a path,
So I don’t share, lest they think I’m judgmental.
How ironic…if they had cancer,
I would be so eager to share the good news,
Medicine that would spare their terminal prognosis.
Whether they believe in no God or many,
Create a god of their own making,
Or deceive themselves that they are god.
Do I lack confidence,
Because I fail to know the Truth,
Or do I study God’s Word so I might know?
Not my own words,
Nor my own wisdom,
But the Truth from the infallible Word of God.
We are lost in our sin,
Unable to save ourselves,
Our own works…will never bring righteousness.
There is only One Way,
He Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life,
We can only come unto the Father by Him alone.
Instead I draw back…fail to share the truth,
After all I am no scholar or theologian,
I might not be able to answer all their questions or challenges.
So instead I stand back,
Let them go forth to eternity,
Lost…soon to share that which God created for Satan and his demons.
How pray tell is that walking in love?
Like letting one walk off a cliff,
Only to fall to their most certain death.
Those lost in their sin will pay the eternal price.
Will I choose to remain silent?
Or share the life giving message…salvation is found in Christ Jesus alone?
By Susan Bunts
September 16, 2007
The above poem was inspired by today’s sermon from guest speaker Kevin Lewis. Kevin addressed a concern, near and dear to his heart…the Christian church is influenced by today’s secular society and is weak and lacking in their Bible knowledge. So much so that we are ineffective in sharing the Gospel message with those who are perishing…lost in their sin. Kevin got down to basics as we started to delve into “Jesus Christ …the Only Way to Eternal Life”.
Once upon a day,
I was your mother.
Far away,
In a foreign land,
We adopted you, took you in,
Made you part of our family.
When your own mother,
Had left you, abandoned you,
To a precarious uncertain future,
I took you in.
I mothered you,
I loved you,
I supported you,
I encouraged you.
Once upon a day,
You visited,
You called,
You cared and were there…but that was before Alzheimer’s set in.
Today I forget,
Even who I am,
Thinking clearly,
A thing of the past.
I might not recognize you,
But I’ll know you,
These days I might not be able to do anything for you,
But I need you.
So far away,
Birthday, Mothers Day, even everyday,
Not a card, not a call, nor a visit,
You tell yourself it’s too hard to see me this way.
Where are you?
How long has it been?
What do you tell yourself, to ease your conscience?
Now that you’ve abandoned me!
Once upon a day,
You loved me too.
Susan Bunts
September 3, 2007
Each Sunday after church I go over to see my mom Gayle who is in an assisted living place for Alzheimer’s patients. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s five years ago. With the foresight of hindsight it was easy to see that she had this for sometime…it just wasn’t bad enough to interfere with her daily functioning to the point of having to take control of her care.
It seems so long ago now. These days I’m most curious as to know what’s going on in that mind of hers. As her disease has progressed she has her ability to have a conversation that makes sense has diminished. She has days where she is more with it than others…but it varies…and her ability to function continues to decline.
Recently the nurses told me that Gayle likes to write. To keep her occupied…they’ll give her a sheet of paper and pen and let her write to her heart’s content. Normally Gayle won’t let them see what she’s written. Instead she hides the paper and goes to her room, tears up the paper and throws it away. I asked if they would try to get some of those letters she writes…and they have been able to snag some of them for me. Her handwriting is at times difficult to read and her thoughts are like her conversation…some what gibberish and not always based on reality. On occasion…there will be something profound or gripping.
The above picture is from a letter I got from the nurses yesterday. Most of the letter rambles on about who knows what…but the last couple of paragraphs she kept writing “Write to me and I’ll write you back. Write to me. Write to me.”
While the person who once was my mother has all but disappeared…the above letter is all too telling.
I am most grateful that she has found favor with the nurses. She is usually rather chipper and funny. I also learned recently that Gayle likes to play Gin Rummy…and at night she plays cards with the nurses and frequently wins.
Now you have a little picture of why Gayle was kicked out of a
There are days…when Gayle is being difficult that I fully understand why my grandmother noted that Gayle got a number of spankings as a child. She still likes to push the envelope. Contrasted with her sister Joyce…Gayle was a bit of a rebel.
The above poem may express some of what Gayle feels and why at times I feel frustrated and perplexed.
So many folks don’t feel comfortable in nursing homes or assisted living places. To some extend when you enter these places you feel the pall of once vibrant healthy people…now waiting to die. Most folks that check in will die there. Honestly…I can’t say I feel comfortable there. But it’s like anything…the more you do it…the more familiar it gets.
It’s certainly not what Gayle signed up for…she is now living out her nightmare. It’s certainly not what I signed up for. But isn’t that kind of what life is like? I think we are most fortunate when we get the good stuff in addition to the stinky. Hopefully at the end of the day…the good will outweigh the bad. When the bad is overwhelming…that's when I’m aware that God is carrying me through.
